Tube vulcanizer



March 14, 1939. DELANO I 2,150,267

TUBE VULCANI ZER Filed May 22, 1937 Fig.1.

INVENTOIQ.

Arromvzy Patented Mar. 14, 1939 of one-third to Harry W. Crosswhite, Maywood, Calif., and one-third to Fred Maigre, Huntington Park, Calif.

Application May 22, 1937, Serial No. 144,118

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a tube vulcanizer. A primary object of the invention is to provide a tube vulcanizer that does not employ the familiar Wood or other block for clamping a tube on the vulcanizing plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for clamping a tube on a vulcanizing plate that will hold the tube against flowing out from under the clamping means, as is the case with said wood block, or other hard material.

Still another object is to provide a rubber-torubber contact for clamping means upon a rubber tube in a vulcanizer for same.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a'broken elevation of an embodiment, shown partly in section.

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 loolnng in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the reference numeral 3 designates a plate that may be heated by any suitable means, not shown, as well known in the art. Flanged supports for the plate 3 are indicated at 4 and 5.

Integral with and extending upwardly from the support'4 is a C-clamp 6 provided with a tapped opening 1 for receiving a clamping bolt 8. Handles 9 are provided at the top of the bolt. The foot of the bolt 8 has a ball and. socket connection Iii with a clamping plate l2.

An inner tube of a vehicle tire is suggested in section at l3 on the plate 3 which is heated by the burner 25. A round housing I4 is disposed on the tube in normal operation. The housing is of relatively rigid material, preferably metal. The housing has a central opening iii at its bottom, provided by an inwardly directed, circular flange l6.

Enclosed within the housing is a molded rubber bag ll substantially conforming with the inner contour of the housing. The bag has a face it exposed at the opening l5 of the housing. Said face !8 provides a rubber-to-rubber contact fer the bag and the inner tube during vulcanization.

A rubber stem 20 connects with the interior of the bag H. A reenforcement 2| is arranged around the connection of the stem with the bag. A hollow, metallic, threaded core 22 is inserted in the stem for attachment to a quickly detachable air coupling, not shown.

A- gas burner 25, or other heating means, is provided to heat the plate.

In the use of the invention, the inner tube to be vulcanized is placed on the plate 3. The housing I4 is placed on the tube with the face l8 of the bag against the portion of the tube to be vulcanized.

The clamping bolt 8 of the C-clamp is then screwed home, thus applying pressure around the part to be vulcanized, through the intermediary of the flange l6 pressing upon the tube. Air pressure is then applied through the stem 20 to the interior of the bag ll, providing pressure upon the rubber-to-rubber contact of the bag face I 8 with the tube. Heat is then applied to the plate 3 to provide the vulcanization.

It will be noted that by this means the rubber of the tube is prevented from flowing when the pressure is applied.

It is to be understood that other shapes than round may be employed for the housing and bag, and other positions of the stem 20 may be used, but the shape and position shown are preferred.

The result is a smooth patch or weld on the tube that reduces bulging to a minimum, and yet at the same time produces a smooth, permanent weld.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing from the spirit of my invention. 1, therefore, do not Wish to restrict myself to the particular form of con struction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications which may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tube vulcanizer comprising a conductive plate, means to heat same, an elastic bag having a flat face for engaging a tube on the plate, a non-elastic housing confining the bag except the flat face, an inwardly directed flange on the housing flush with the flat face of the bag to simultaneously engage a tube on the plate, means for admitting air pressure through the housing to the bag, and means clamping the housing with the bag in said position.

2. A tube vulcanizer comprising a conductive plate, means to heat same, a metallic, pressureresisting housing on the plate, the housing being flat sided adjacent the plate, there being an opening on said flat side, the remaining portion of said side'around the opening providing inmeans. and directly on said spot of the tube and apart from the pressure applied to the nonyielding means, and applying heat to said spot.

4. The method of vulcanizing a tube comprising: applying a continuous, non-yielding means 5 around a spot on a tube to be vulcanized, ap-

plying mechanical pressure to said non-yielding means, applying air pressure within said means and directly on said spot of the tube, and

applying heat to said spot. 10

FRANK DELANO. 

